Good titles are hard magic! #amwriting #HowIwrite #authorblogs #BloggersBlast

      Good titles are hard magic or Words mean things or
How I choose a book title!

This has been an interesting topic to follow in the blog challenge, one which I've read with a bit of jealousy. How do I choose a book title? The answer? Not so easily.

(And let me apologize now because I got longer and longer as I typed. I had no idea I had so much to say on the topic. Stick with me and you might be surprised at what you learn about my writing and thought processes. ;) Short attention spans are not us!)

Once Upon a Time, when I was writing books years ago, (things you may or may not ever see) I'd tend to choose my title...I don't really know how. They just came to me. Sometimes it was an overall theme in the story (think Trevor being an artist whose art comes with a heavy karmic "inheritance" in The Artist's Inheritance, or Caitlin's acquiring of the locket embossed with a mourning dove in...well, her latest installment, Mourning Dove Locket), sometimes not. More than once, the working title went by the heroine's name.

From about the time I started indie publishing, the title muse left me. Yep. I'd get, or tend to get, downright stuck when it comes to titles. In one case, I had a working title for Passion's Sacred Dance, that my editor thought might leave people going "WTF?" and suggested I change it, to Passion's Sacred Dance. I guess she thought it would help. In my opinion, it said nothing about the book (not like, think: DragonFlight, Sailor on the Seas of Fate, Weird of the White Wolf [although, I bet a lot of people outside the field wonder what he meant by "Weird" which is technically, misspelled] etc).

Then other writer friends of mine pointed out an author workshop on titles. The workshop giver claimed keywords were the way to go. Specifically for ranking in Amazon. Celtic, Magic, fantasy, romance, cooking, and Druid. Anything you can think of can be a keyword, if it's mundane and known enough, so the theory goes. Sure Sailor on the Seas of Fate might have a keyword (your choice as to which one!), Dragonflight might have a keyword. But then, so do a lot of titles. For instance, how many Duke or Viscount or (fill in desperate attempt to copy Jane Austen titles here) this and that's or The (keyword: Corporate big whig Job Title's) (keyword: Such and Such) Secret (keyword:What-Not)...  book titles can you think of in the Romance genre? And I see it way more in romance than I do anywhere else, to be honest. Do keywords help you rank in Amazon? 

I tried it, but I am skeptical because it feels like really dumbing things down (and talking down to people frankly, which I hate as both a reader and a writer). And let's be honest, when Harry Potter and the Philospher's Stone came out back in 1997 when no one knew that author from Merlin, do you really think its target audience knew what the hell the Philospher's Stone was, let alone what a Harry Pot....er, Potter was? (do you know what a philosopher's stone is? I do....and I don't even remember said kids' novel's author mentioning that definition but it's been ages since I read her book.) Or let's just take another: Rama Revealed or Rama II. Only if you know Indian Mythology do know who Rama is. Would you guess that's a science fiction novel that has very little to do with the Rama of Indian Mythology? What about Lord Valentine, Majipoor Chronicles, or  Valentine Pontifex? Only if you know Majipoor is the name of the world in Robert Silverberg's Majipoor series and Valentine is a figure in that world, would you know those are some of its keywords. And yeah, I do wonder how often now browsers of "Valentine's day stories" run across Lord Valentine's Castle, and Valentine Pontifex and wonder if they've fallen off into Alice's rabbit hole. *gigglesnort*

But getting off the fan girl rant and back onto the subject... I decided to be open minded and do a little hunting. I don't know about you but I really don't search titles based on keywords. Genre, maybe, keywords no. It smacks of that "I don't know but the book is blue" meme.

Do people really do that?? (And if they do, what's the point of worrying about your title anyway? Except to have something to put in Amazon's search engine.)

Let's just take Passion's Sacred Dance as an example.  Guess what? Well, it turns out Dance is a low ranking keyword in Amazon. In fact it brings up so many books about "Sacred Dance" in the non-fiction aisle I began to wonder if the editor  knew "dance" was a euphemism for battle? But the "passion" part, I trusted, would get it in front of at least the wider target of romance readers. Surely my true target audience (those interested in Celtic Mythology [possibly those that like Norse mythology too] based fantasy and/or fantasy romance stories) would get the dance double entendre?

So also Druid, Magic, Fantasy, Celtic, Warrior, and Tarot. All of them keywordy as well as fitting. Some of those words, though, I think turn people off. So in reality, no matter what you pick, you are shooting in the dark.

Stick with me, here, friends, there's a point to this chatter, I swear.

Fast forward to this December, and I got to kicking around last minute ideas for titles for a new book, and casually mentioned the title of my 2014 novel Drawing Down the Shades to (of all people) my husband. Yeah, this one:

Imagine my surprise when I had to explain to him what "Shade" means in terms of my book.

Do you know?

*flips open copy of Miriam Webster dictionary site*

Shade:

  

   definition 3:  an evanescent or unreal appearance


  definition 5a:  a disembodied spirit:  ghost

Now, that was my first thought when a friend suggested that title: Shade is another word for ghost, and a nice play on words. It never occurred to me that the general populace wouldn't know that. Particularly, I thought for sure my target urban-paranormal fantasy target audience would know it! (Dear readers, I know you are all educated, and wide-read, with big vocabularies to boot, so please tell me I'm not wrong, here!)

An audience of which my hubby is part having been married to me and seen all the books I've collected and seen damn near all the same movies and TV shows I've seen. Nope. He said until that day I explained the meaning to him he'd never heard that use of the term. So that left me with the question, if you use a keywordy title and the people who you think will know the keyword don't know the keyword, what use is using keywords in titles? Maybe I should've called it Witching Down the Shades but that sounds stupid, as does Ghosting Down the Shades. (Witch--er, which, by the way, "ghosting" someone or something has the meaning killing, don't you know?)

And shade these days (here, three years later) means still another thing altogether! Neither of which have much to do with Drawing Down the Shades .... (except ghost=kill might loosely, maybe, point to how the ghost that Caitlin helps in DDTS ...*spoiler alert* ... got to be the ghost).

I was thinking a bit keywordy though, (before it was fashionable!) as I figured (as I did with Caitlin's Book of Shadows) that "Drawing Down the" would lead to another target audience trigger: Caitlin being a pagan witch and  drawing down the moon, not to mention books of shadows, being a Wiccan/pagan ritual thing!

But never once did it occur to me that "shades" would pose a problem.

*sigh*

(I must admit, I'm a little mystified about why Kim Harrison's marketing team(?) thought it was a good idea to mimic so many Clint Eastwood titles in her Rachel Morgan series. Yes, they're adorable, but if you misread "Every Witch Way...", A Fistful of ...,  or "The Good, the Bad and..." and think: Clint Eastwood movie, not UF book, you could easily overlook or be annoyed by the fun that is Rachel Morgan. I still love 'em, though).

So how do I pick a book's title? Basic bibliomancy (choose by pointing at manuscript with eyes closed)? Hope for the best? It's enough to make a gal mad (by which of course, I mean crazy! ;)). That just leads me back to the post's subtitle: titles are hard!

And now, you know. :) Sorry for the long rant, er read, but thanks for sticking with this.

Other indie authors, help me out here, how do you pick a good title?

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TweetThis!: Good Titles are Hard Magic. @julidrevezzo http://bit.ly/2n5I9qQ #amwriting #HowIwrite #authorblogs #BloggersBlast

Juli D. Revezzo is the author of the MOURNING DOVE LOCKET, the latest in the Antique Magic paranormal series, also the Celtic Stewards Chronicles fantasy romance series, as well as the Victorian Romance HOUSE OF DARK ENVY, among others. Her books are available at Amazon and elsewhere.

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Working or hardly working? #amwriting #Saturdayblogshare #authorslife

Well, that's ... a silly question! Of course I'm working--on a new book, on a new manuscript, still on that knitting project. It's all in the works, always. :) I've got some final touches to put on the new book, but it looks like, I may be able to get it out before my deadline! Woot! Of course, I will keep you posted. :)

And then there was the Women in Horror event last week. So much fun! I hope y'all had a chance to stop by. :) I met some new, wonderful writers, so yeah. I had fun, anyway.

Other than that, yes, I am still knitting the project. It's about halfway to where I want it to be.

What did I read this week? I bit more of  Staurolite by Marsha A. Moore. Of course, I'm enjoying it. Dragons, war, magic. What's not to love there? :) Dragons are wonderful things, aren't they? :) I'm almost finished, so those of you following my review blog, stay tuned for that review. I should (hopefully) have it up this week.

An interesting side effect? (boys, go ahead, plug your ears!) I've noticed it's seemed to help with my  usual PMS rage. Well... Dragons as PMS quellers. Who knew? ;)

I got out to the park this week and walked around a bit (yea, exercise!) and my toe started hurting. *sigh* I have had this trouble for a while and I don't know what to put it down to. I tried new tennies, I've tried stretching before we go out. Sometimes it helps, sometimes it doesn't. I will say, when I stretch it, I don't have to soak in epsom salts, after the fact. So that's a (ahem, pardon the pun) step in the right direction. :) I know my father had gout (probably caused by drinking when he was a younger man), but I doubt it's that. (I don't drink).  I think it's just arthritis and getting older.

Ugh!!

Yeah, I am.

Whatever it is, it's irritating to be hobbled after exercise or other long walks. Exercise is good for you, remember? Not.

 For now, though, I have stuff to do. I just wanted to get in here and say happy Saturday!

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Working or hardly working? #amwriting #Saturdayblogshare #authorslife [Tweet this!]

' *** Juli D. Revezzo is the author of the MOURNING DOVE LOCKET, the latest in the Antique Magic paranormal series, also the Celtic Stewards Chronicles fantasy romance series, as well as the Gothic romance LADY OF THE TAROT. Her books are available at Amazon and elsewhere.



Coffee cup image above by Karolina Grabowska/Kaboompics; found at Pixabay.

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Happy Birthday, Virginia Woolf

Yes, yesterday was author Virginia Woolf's birthday. Most people know her from their school reading, or that (god awful) movie the hours. I discovered her work in college when a lit professor assigned us To The Lighthouse (right before I got into a car wreck that threw me out of school for a while. Ugh). Mainly her fictional work, but she also wrote essays, short stories, and tons of letters and diary entries. 

Yes, I found her novels a little hard to wrap my head around, the flow of her narrative is not what we've come to expect. Dare I say, it takes work to understand? Her writings are definitely not for the lazy reader. And she didn't bother herself with the "rules". Remember, she was writing in the 19-teens and '20s, so, unlike the writers today, not everything is always wrapped up in a nice little bow. 

And she wasn't afraid to try things no one else had. I mean, think about it? Who else do you know who takes a paragraph out of their narrative to give the point of view to a crab? The Modernists might've played around with the novel's form, but as far as I know, none of them (*coughmencough*) had the balls to do that.

But, to me, I think that's probably what makes her so cool. The fact that I have to wrap my head around her stories makes it worth it to me. One of my favorites? Well, Jacob's Room. I won't tell you why. You have to read it, and follow it all the way to the end, to find out. I wouldn't recommend a new to her reader start with Jacob's Room, though. If you've never read her before, her earlier books, The Voyage Out and Night and Day, especially, are easier reads. But her experimentation, to me, even outside the impact she made on feminism, is what I especially love her for. (It's a shame writers aren't allowed to try such bold experiments, these days...but I digress) Even today, she still inspires me to forge ahead, and try things I maybe haven't before.

So, I have to take this day just to say, once again, happy birthday, Virginia and salute her bravery as a writer and a woman. :)

A smattering of her work:

Novels

• The Voyage Out (1915)
• Night and Day (1919)
• Jacob's Room (1922)
• Mrs Dalloway (1925)
• To the Lighthouse (1927)
• Orlando (1928)
• The Waves (1931)
• The Years (1937)
• Between the Acts (1941)
•  
• Others:
• The Diary of Virginia Woolf 1915-1919:  
• The Diary of Virginia Woolf 1920-1924
• A Room of One's Own 
• Moments of Being

A few quotes:
“Every secret of a writer’s soul, every experience of his life, every quality of his mind, is written large in his works.” —Virginia Woolf

“So long as you write what you wish to write, that is all that matters; and whether it matters for ages or only for hours, nobody can say. ”

“My writing now delights me solely because I love writing and don’t, honestly, care a hang what anyone says....”

Have you ever read any Virginia Woolf? 

What's your favorite book by Virginia Woolf?

Other links about Virginia:
On Wayne McGregor's ballet Woolf Works
Virginia Woolf: The Highs and Lows of Her Creative Genius 
The Unsaid: The Silence of Virginia Woolf
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Happy Birthday, Virginia Woolf http://bit.ly/2jBI9y4 @julidrevezzo #authors #writerslife #virginiawoolf Tweet this!

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Juli D. Revezzo is the author of the MOURNING DOVE LOCKET, the latest in the Antique Magic paranormal series, also the Celtic Stewards Chronicles fantasy romance series, as well as the Gothic romance LADY OF THE TAROT. Her books are available at Amazon and elsewhere.

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Haven of Evil by Melvin Rivers--Bewitching Book Tours--paranormal #horror

It's my pleasure today to introduce you to horror author, Melvin Rivers. He's just released his latest book and since we're getting closer to Halloween (*rubs hands gleefully*)I asked him here to tell y'all a little about his love of Halloween, how he celebrates, and to share a little about his new paranormal horror novel HAVEN OF EVIL. Take it away, Melvin!

Halloween begins on October 31 of every year. It’s the day kids get dressed in costumes and go door to door saying “trick or treat” with the hope of receiving some goodies. As for myself, Halloween begins on the first day of October.  I enjoy celebrating this holiday all month long. I head to the market and buy pumpkins, curve scary faces into them and sat them in my yard. From there I go to dollar stores and even bigger retail stores and purchase things such as plastic skeletons, coffins, and other props such as witches and vampires. I put these items in my yard next to the jack o lanterns. 

Once my displays are finished, I sat on my porch and watch the neighbors marveling at the sight. Also the Halloween season, is the time when leaves change colors from green to orange and the weather get a tad cooler. This is the perfect setting to read my favorite horror novels by my favorite authors. There’s nothing like sitting on the porch on a cool brisk day eating a bowl of popcorn reading a scary book in front of the Halloween display while orange leaves fall off the trees onto the ground.

Although the Christmas season has classic movies such as “It's a Wonderful Life,” Miracle on 34th Street,” and Christmas in Connecticut,” movies shown during the Halloween season aren’t too shady either. Every night during the Halloween season, I stay glued to my TV enjoying movies such as “Dracula,” “The Wolfman,” and of course John Carpenter’s classic “Halloween.”

The season is a great time to visit haunted things. All season long haunted attractions such as houses, museums, and cemeteries are at their peak. There is always a supposedly haunted place (or perhaps a real haunted place) to visit during this time of the year.

Finally, during the last day of the Halloween season on October 31, I passed out candy to the little witches, vampires, and angels that come knocking on my door saying “Trick or Treat.”

When do you begin celebrating Halloween? And what do you do to celebrate it?

Haven of Evil
Melvin Rivers

Genre: Horror
 

Re-release date 10/25/16

 ISBN: 978-1494317461

ASIN: B01384ES70


Number of pages: 265

Word Count: 41,200 words

  Cover Artist: Artrocity

  Book Description:

  Haven of Evil, a book of supernatural terror, contains bone-chilling terror that is unleashed on an unsuspecting couple who moves into their new home after a flood had destroyed the old one.

  When Kevin and Sandra Wilson’s home and personal possessions were destroyed by flood waters, the couple relocated to a town called Havenville. Things started out rough when they avoided hitting a mysterious woman on the road. Later Kevin was attacked by hawks in a cemetery where a stranger rescued him. Kevin and the stranger become fast friends, but later the stranger wasn't who he had appeared to be.

  After some tragic and terrifying events Sandra goes into a murderous rage not long after Kevin finds out about an evil that dwelled inside their house--an evil that will change their lives forever.

  In this tale of horror, some will live and others will not.

  Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/QZ_pTAvuVKo

Amazon

  Excerpt:

He turned to walk back home. A woman in a black dress stood a few paces in front of him. The woman’s eyes were black marbles embedded in a sunken face. Her white hair hung down over her shoulders like spaghetti strings, and there were more cracks in her face than there were on a broken sidewalk. A foul stench seemed to follow her around – the scent of rotting meat.

Kevin grimaced and held his nose. The horrid odor clung to him like stench on a decomposed corpse. “What in the –”

“Leave that place now,” the woman’s voice gurgled.

He took a step back, fanned his nose, and spat. “You’re the woman I almost hit on the road.” He narrowed his eyes and scratched his head. “How – I mean, what in the –”

“Don’t give in to the dreams or listen to him. You can’t defeat it.” She turned and pushed her way through a hedge of high bushes to the right of the highway.

“Miss, what are you talking about?” He pinched his nose to keep the woman’s stench at bay and followed her through a stretch of woods, coming to an open field. A steep hill was not far away. “Hey, Miss, where are you?” he called, looking around. She was nowhere in sight.

She’s obviously crazy. I wonder if her family knows she’s out here. If she has family at all… he fanned his face and blew out a breath. That smell… how did it get on her?

Squawking came from somewhere above him. Kevin looked up to see hawks circling the area as if they owned it.

Kevin started up the hill when a hawk swooped down. He ducked. The bird soared past him and came up squawking, wings flapping and beak open. Kevin covered his face with his arms and ran. The animal’s talons, long and sharp, reached for his arms. Kevin sidestepped to the right and caught hold of a wing. He hurled the hawk with all his strength. The bird fluttered wildly before flying away.

He sat and breathed heavily while watching the sky in case the hawk came back. After resting, he climbed the hill and surveyed the view. There was, on the other side of the hill, a cemetery – the biggest he had ever seen. Headstones, grave markers, and crosses spread out over at least five-hundred acres. He descended the hill for a better view. Something snapped and he fell.

“Oh, shit!” he screamed. He clenched his jaw against the pain and fought to keep back tears. He pried the mouth of an animal trap from his leg and staggered to his feet, managing to limp a few feet before falling again. He winced in pain.

A hawk flew down and perched on a headstone.

I’m going to die only a few yards from a cemetery. At least they won’t have to carry me far.

The bird raised a wing as if it was ready to attack.

“No, I’m going to fight. I refuse to die out here,” Kevin said under his breath. He struggled to his feet. A knife-stabbing ache went through his leg. He went down on one knee. He slowly shook his head back and forth. “Must go on.” He got to his feet and glanced at the headstone. The hawk was gone. He hobbled to the hill.

I can make it if I crawl. A shadow loomed and covered the area in front of him. He heard heavy breathing from somewhere nearby. He stood still, balancing his weight on the uninjured leg. Something began snarling. He turned around slowly. Two menacing black eyes stared into his.


  About the Author:

  Melvin Rivers was inspired to write horror by imitating the writers of his favorite horror comics many years ago. As he grew older the works of Bram Stoker, Edgar Allan Poe, H.P. Lovecraft, and of course Stephen King grabbed his attention.

  Melvin Rivers was born in the town of Luxora, Arkansas, and grew up in Memphis, Tennessee. He received a degree in Journalism from the University of Iowa. He lives in Cedar Rapids Iowa with his wife, dog and two cats. When he is not writing or surfing the web, he enjoys having a hot bowl of popcorn while watching his favorite horror flick on TV.


  https://www.facebook.com/Haven-of-Evil-1600674046823390/
  http://melvinrivers2.wix.com/mysite

Thanks for being with us, Melvin! And good luck with Haven of Evil. It sounds intriguing!

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Cover reveal and giveaway--L.M. Pruitt's Silk

About the Author:

I pleased to host horror author L.M. Pruitt today. Her latest, spooky novel is about to release and she's come with a cover reveal. Ready? There is an excerpt and a giveaway below, so please read on.



Silk

L.M. Pruitt



Release Date: April 19, 2016

And here it is, the cover... *drum roll please*

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Victoria Danann--paranormal romance author talks about her new book &a #giveaway

I have the pleasure today to bring you best selling paranormal romance author Victoria Danann. Her latest novel, Vampire Hunters, releases on January 18th. So for your reading pleasure, I asked Ms. Dannan about the book and her series.

Hi, Victoria. Thanks for joining us. :) How did you first come to write about your vampires? What drew you to the genre?

Victoria: Salem’s Lot and Buffy

Oooh...Salem's Lot! That one was a scary one! What can you tell us about the Order of the Black Swan series?

Victoria: Well, first, it won BEST PARANORMAL ROMANCE SERIES the past two years in a row. (Reviewers’ Choice Awards, The Paranormal Romance Guild).

Congratulations. :)

Victoria: So far it has garnered over 3,700 reviews with an average rating of 4.5.

Because I believe in the series, the first book, My Familiar Stranger, is FREE everywhere.

AMAZON http://www.amazon.com/My-Familiar-Stranger-Paranormal-ebook/dp/B007V8RAKW

B&N http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/my-familiar-stranger-victoria-danann/1113918596;jsessionid=3B1D2D58CEEF5F55D8B885AF3FC039DA.prodny_store02-atgap06?ean=2940045052818

iBooks https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/my-familiar-stranger-paranormal/id576452347?mt=11



This book is a retelling of a previous release, My Familiar Stranger. What made you decide to do that, rather than, say, write a completely new story?

Victoria: Fortunately, it’s not an either/or choice. I have new books releasing in February and March also. The decision to write Vampire Hunter was made partly to please me, because I’ve never made any secret of the fact that Rammel Hawking is my all time favorite character, and partly to please his fans and the readers who just wanted to know more about what happened before Elora entered the picture.



By what authors would you say you are influenced?

Victoria: Stephen King for convincing me that writing in modern speak is a good idea. Karen Marie Moning for convincing me that telling a story over the arc of several books is a good idea. Kresley Cole for convincing me that adding a little spice to the paranormal romance is a good idea.

All excellent influences, to be sure. :) Now that VAMPIRE HUNTER is out, what can curious fans expect from you next?

Victoria: February 15, CARNAL, The Beast Who Loved Me. First in a new series called Exiled.

March 29 JOURNEY MAN, Black Swan 8 That’s right. It’s baaaaaack.

Plus at least FOUR other books THIS YEAR (2016).

:) Wow! You will be very busy this year!

If you weren’t a writer, what career might you have pursued instead?

Before I was a writer I worked for the airlines and traveled the world. I was an evening wear designer with a New York showroom and a clientele in New England, Europe, and South America. I got an M.A. in psychology and did a brief stint as a clinical psychologist (HATED IT!) Also did some graduate work in history and mythology. I was the utility player in a Classic Rock Band (that means I played keyboards/rhythm guitar and sang backups/some leads). I illustrated Seasons of the Witch for fifteen years. I was a small publisher. And I could go on, but you’d get bored.



That's a fantastic background. :) Some things there I know I'd probably never get bored with, myself. On writing,  do you have any advice for aspiring Urban fantasy or Romance authors?

Victoria: Hmmm. Get an education before you start writing. If you don’t, you’ll sound stupid.



I agree with that too. What authors are you currently reading and keeping an eye on?

R.J. Lewis, J.A. Huss, Penelope Douglas



Good choices. We'll have to check them out. :) Lastly, where can my readers learn more about you?

WEBSITE: http://www.VictoriaDanann.com
MAIL LIST: http://bit.ly/1IfByBg
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/vdanann

TWITTER: http://www.twitter.com/vdanann

PINTEREST: http://www.pinterest.com/vdanann

GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5822912.Victoria_Danann

Thanks, Juli, for a great questionnaire that didn’t ask the same questions I usually see.

Thank you, Victoria, for being with us! Best wishes for you and your series. :) Folks, if you'd like to check out her latest book, you can do so here. And don't miss the excerpt from VAMPIRE HUNTER and the giveaway below.

Vampire Hunter

Rammel Hawking

Book One

Victoria Danann



Genre: Paranormal Romance

Publisher: 7th House



Date of Publication: January 18, 2016



ISBN:

ASIN: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01APIXTJ0



Number of pages: 428

Word Count: 97k



Cover Artist: Victoria Danann



Book Description:



Ram’s book is partly My Familiar Stranger retold from his unique point of view with chapter insights from other significant characters. The story begins the first time he runs away to the New Forest at age ten, follows his recruitment by Black Swan along with his training to be a vampire hunter, and tells the story of the death of his first partner.



Set in the world of the Knights of Black Swan.





Excerpt:

Lan (narrated by Ram’s first partner, Sir Lansdowne)



I had finished my education and chosen to sign on with Black Swan. The ink wasn’t dry on the paper before I was out the door. First assignment was Grunewald, the unit that serviced Berlin. It was close enough by whister to patrol, but far enough away to be secluded. The building was a renovation, or adaptation really, of an eighteenth century grand house, set in the middle of a forest preserve that was off limits to anyone not Black Swan.

I had seen a lot of the world by then, but had never been to Berlin. I knew why we had a unit there. Because wherever you find prevalent nightlife, you find active nests of vampire. I didn’t have any personal experience with leeches at that time. But you don’t have to experience a thing personally to believe people when they tell you it’s nasty.

I had never heard anything about vampire until six months ago. They trained our minds and bodies to be precision instruments and occasionally said something vague about protecting the innocent. But crap on a croissant. We had no idea we were preparing to be the only barrier between humanity and monsters that turned out to be real. Our story when we met civilian juvies was that we were in military school. Hel. Close enough. Right?

Anyway, six months ago they clued me in. There are vampire out there. I had two choices when I turned eighteen. I could sign on as a vampire hunter or go home and keep my mouth shut about everything I’d learned. I was told that, if I chose the first option, I’d find that my training hadn’t even begun. I didn’t believe that. I mean how much harder could it be? Really.

They said they took the mouth shut part of option two very seriously. No threat was spelled out, but it was certainly implied. I had six months to decide. So. Sure. I thought about it. A lot.

The day before I turned eighteen I still hadn’t decided. I returned to quarters around ten o’clock, closed the door, switched on the light and nearly jumped out of my skin.

My uncle was sitting there in the dark waiting like some creeper from a film noir movie. He laughed when I jumped.

“Right. Real funny. What are you doing in this part of the world?”

His smile slowly faded away. “Sit. I want to say something.”

Uncle Al wasn’t the sort of guy you said no to. I sat in the chair closest to the sofa where he’d parked his overbearing ass. He didn’t speak at first, just stared at me, and I have to tell you it took every bit of the self-discipline I’d learned to keep from squirming under that kind of scrutiny. But I knew it was some kind of test. I was supposed to be patient and wait it out. So I did.

“You’re going to be eighteen tomorrow.”

I smirked. “So I hear.”

He nodded. “Are you decided?”

I looked away. “Honestly? No. I’ve been hoping for a sign.”

“A sign, huh?”

My uncle didn’t seem to think that was a reliable approach to decision making.

“Well, I don’t know what kind of sign you’re expecting. I thought I’d stop by. Won’t be here tomorrow. So happy birthday.”

“Thanks.”

I stood when he got up to leave. He turned toward the door, but turned back like he’d forgotten something. I could almost see him mentally patting his pockets.

“Anything you want to ask me?”

I wouldn’t have thought so, but since he put it that way. There was something.

“I guess it’s clear what choice you made. Any regrets?”

He grinned. It was a thing so rare I couldn’t think if I’d ever seen him look pleased before.

“A good question for a seventeen-year-old.”

“Almost eighteen.”

“Indeed.” He nodded. “The answer is no. Not one. Hope that helps.”

I thought about it for a second. “Would you feel the same way if you died tomorrow?”

His grin got even bigger. “Definitely.”

With that he left without looking back and, in fact, it did help. Immensely.



Teachers are known to go on every year about how you’d better get ready because the next year is going to be so much harder. But it never is. It’s always the same thing. So when I signed on to Black Swan for life and they told me it was about to get real, I just smirked on the inside and thought, “Yeah. Yeah. I’ve heard it before.”

Looking back now I could slap my little bratty self for acting like a punk. Even if I kept it on the inside. For once the future of dread hadn’t been overstated. It had been understated.

The next four years were rigorous enough to make the first five look like a glide on a paddle board over a smooth-as-glass lake. Naturally, once we understood that we were going to be vampire hunters, and what that meant, we began to pay attention in earnest. But here’s the bare truth of that. Nothin’ they can do or say can truly prepare you for what it feels like the first time you are face to face with a pale-eyed leech who wants to rip you apart with virus-dripping fangs.

My internship was mostly served as backup to the Grunewald Unit knights. I went to Brazil for a few months and did an awful rotation in Central America looking for Chupacabra. Ew. Things give me willies when I think about them. Yeah. They’re even worse than vampire.

I was always sent back to Berlin though. Like it was home base. That was okay with me. There was a lot of action and the Grunewald knights were good solid teachers. They taught me about slaying vampire and they taught me about camaraderie.

Then, of course, there were German girls. I mean, you’ve gotta love girls who have beer with breakfast. Right?

It was a good place to pay my dues and hone my skills.

Three years later, I was told that I was being sent to Jefferson Unit. Rumor had it that I was going to be a vampire slayer in New York, New York.

I wasn’t very impressed when the jeep stopped in front of J.U. It was the farthest thing from Grunewald Castle. A plain brick building with not a single window showing. Looked more like a prison than a Black Swan facility.

Don’t get me wrong. I don’t require frills to complete me. It was just an observation. I stopped at the intercom.

“Knock. Knock.”

“Who’s there?”

“Landsdowne.”

“Just a minute.”

I heard the buzzer and pushed on the door. My first thought was that there was an awful lot of activity for a place that looked so quiet on the outside. I hoisted my duffel up higher on my shoulder and stopped a kid going by.

“Sovereign’s office?”

“Down one level and turn right.”

I nodded my thanks and headed toward the elevators. The central area was impressive with its three-story ceiling, modern gleam and polish. The place looked like a prison from the front, but once inside it was open and light with a view to what appeared to be a park on the other side of tall windows.

When the elevator opened, I checked to make sure the down arrow was lit, stepped inside and pushed S1. A couple of girls, well, young women I guess you’d say, got in after me in workout clothes. One of them looked me over, taking in the duffel, “Transferring in?”

“Yeah.”

She smiled. “I’m Ellsbeth. I work in medical.” The elevator opened. When I realized they weren’t getting off, I finally got the hint and exited. “See you around.”

The sovereign’s office wasn’t hard to find. The reception area was glass to the hallway, but I checked the plaque just to be sure. Sol Nemamiah, Sovereign.

There was a kid at the desk, young enough to be a student. He looked up when I walked in and dropped my duffel.

“Transfer from Berlin,” I said.

“Go on in.” He pointed to a closed door.

I opened the door, hoping the instruction wasn’t a new-guy-hazing prank.

The first thing I saw was a mess of blond hair. I knew he was an elf because he had some of that hair tucked behind the ears. I guess he could have been fae, but I didn’t know of any fae knights.

When he turned around, I had three thoughts. That he was just about my age. That his eyes sparkled with elf mischief. And that the only word to describe him was beautiful.

Now don’t get me wrong. I have a strong preference for the opposite sex and don’t usually think about whether other guys are attractive or not. But this elf had it going and I would have had to be blind to not notice.

I looked past him to the man behind the desk. You could tell it was the Sovereign by the way his jaw seemed permanently clenched. He pointed at the elf. “Rammel Aelshelm Hawking, meet Basil Rathbone Landsdowne.”

The elf stuck out his hand. I took it and shook. That’s when it registered. I laughed and blurted out, “You’re P.P.”

“Excuse me?” he said, with his brow knitting.

I looked at the Sovereign and thought better of saying more. “I’ll explain. Later.”

“You two are getting a try out as partners, attached to B Team, starting,” he looked at his monitor, “Thursday. Mr. Hawking, Mr. Landsdowne’s quarters are next to yours. Show him the way.”

“Aye,” said the elf as he moved toward the outer office. He held the door open to the hall and gestured toward the elevator. “Welcome to worm patrol.”

“Worm patrol? Sounds like I should turn around and ask for reassignment.”

He laughed. “I’ve been told that’s what they call rotation in the Big Apple.”

“Oh.”

Once inside he pushed the third floor button and leaned back against the wall facing me. “So what was the peepee thing?”

I grinned. “Not peepee! P. P. Your reputation is widely known. Parties and pussy.”

He cocked his head and gave a tiny smile. “’Tis what they say about me?”

“Yeah, man. It could be worse. They could be sayin’ you’re a limp dick wanker who’s scared of girls.”

He combined a grin with a sly look that I’d come to think of as Ram’s trademark smile. “Spent a lot of time alone as a kid. I suppose there was some pent-up party in me. Maybe I’ve over-compensated. I would no’ want P.P. on my tombstone.”



About the Author:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of eleven romances. Victoria's Knights of Black Swan series won BEST PARANORMAL ROMANCE SERIES TWO YEARS IN A ROW. Reviewers Choice Awards, The Paranormal Romance Guild.

Her paranormal romances come with uniquely fresh perspectives on "imaginary" creatures, characters, and themes. She adds a dash of scifi, a flourish of fantasy, enough humor to make you laugh out loud, and enough steam to make you squirm in your chair. Her heroines are independent femmes with flaws and minds of their own whether they are aliens, witches, demonologists, psychics, past life therapists. Her heroes are hot and hunky, but they also have brains, character, and good manners. **Usually.



Victoria lives in The Woodlands, Texas with her husband and a very smart, mostly black German Shepherd dog.



Website: http://www.VictoriaDanann.com



Mailing List: http://bit.ly/1IfByBg



Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/vdanann



Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/vdanann



Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/vdanann



Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5822912.Victoria_Danann



Tour giveaway


Tour Giveaway for READERS: $100 Amazon Gift Card. Click here to enter the: Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks again, Victoria and readers, enjoy Vamipre Hunter and good luck, if you enter the giveaway! :) And always, Keep reading!

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My interviews today at…

Good day, everyone. I hope you're doing well. I have been. Editing like crazy. But, also, I have a couple interviews I wanted to let you know about. First, I'm over at Marsha A. Moore's Illusions of Intimacy, talking about my druids and their magic, in my latest Fantasy Romance, Druid Warrior's Heart. You can see that post here.

Also, I recently had a fun interview about DWH with paranormal historical romance author Mary Morgan. You can see that one here. I hope you enjoy them.

Thanks, ladies, for hosting me!

(image: "Social Media Signpost" by Stuart Miles)

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Introducing authors: #fantasy author Annie DouglassLima--#indie #interview

Today, I have the pleasure of hosting my friend and fellow fantasy author Annie Douglass Lima. Her most recent release is an alternative history YA novel, The Collar and the Cavvarach, and I invited her here to tell you all a little more about it.

How did you first come to write fantasy?

Annie Douglass Lima: I’ve been writing for as long as I can recall. When I was seven years old, I had a sudden inspiration for what I thought was an amazing science fiction story and decided then and there that I was going to write a book and be the world's youngest author. I ran to my room in great excitement, found an old notebook and a pencil, and started in. Well, that first novel was never actually finished, let alone published, but it got me started. After that, I can't remember a time that I wasn't working on at least one book. Prince of Alasia, which I started in college, was the first one I finished that I thought was worth trying to get published, and then two more (In the Enemy’s Service and Prince of Malorn) joined the series.

It’s hard to see myself writing anything other than speculative fiction (fantasy, sci-fi, etc.). Nonfiction and realistic fiction just don’t give my imagination enough room to play! I like to be able to make the rules. Having said that, The Collar and the Cavvarach, my latest novel, isn’t really fantasy, at least not in the typical sense. It’s more of an alternate reality. If you were to step into that world, you would probably assume you were still in our own world – except for a few key details, like the prevalence of slavery.

The story somehow puts me in mind of Gladiator. What inspired you to write The Collar and the Cavvarach?

Annie: I’ve had the idea growing in my mind for the last few years. It started as just a picture of the setting and its culture: a world almost exactly like ours, but with legalized slavery. The main characters, Bensin (a 14-year-old slave and martial artist) and Steene (his owner and coach) emerged gradually, along with the plot (Bensin’s struggle to protect and free his younger sister).

And for readers that might not understand, what is the Cavvarach?

Annie: A cavvarach is a sword-like weapon (pictured on the book cover) that is used in the martial art of cavvara shil. I wanted to create a challenging martial art for Bensin to compete in that was a combination of two or three different fighting styles, involving elements of unarmed combat as well as the use of a weapon. It took a few false starts before I had a fighting style I liked. At first I just pictured using a traditional sword, but I wanted something a little less stereotypical. The cavvarach, with a steel hook on the top edge of the blade, ended up being just right for what I had in mind. Combatants try to snag their opponent’s hook to tug the weapon out of the other person’s hand, which is one way to win a duel. (They can also knock it away with their own cavvarach, or kick it away.) Besides disarming an opponent, you can win by knocking them over and pinning their shoulders to the mat for five seconds.

By what authors would you say you are influenced?

Annie: C.S. Lewis provided my very first literary inspiration. More recently, I’ve enjoyed the works of inspirational fantasy author Anne Elisabeth Stengl. Her Tales of Goldstone Wood series is amazingly crafted. I love the way the time periods in some of the books overlap, focusing on different characters and sometimes different views of the same events. That storytelling style influenced my fantasy series, the Annals of Alasia, though not The Collar and the Cavvarach as much.



Lewis is a goodie. I've never heard of Stengl. I'll have to put her on my to be read list!

Any interesting stories to share about your road to publication?

Annie: As a teacher as well as an author, I've got a captive audience in my classroom.  I read all my books to my students before (and after) I publish them, and their feedback is tremendously helpful in improving my writing.  When the kids start yawning and playing with things in their desk as I read, I know I need to liven up that scene.  When they stare with wide eyes and don't even notice the recess bell, I know I've done something right.  And their questions and comments help me see what parts don't make sense or go over their heads.  So, I change what I need to and try to do more of what they respond well to.  I also have a club for middle schoolers that meets in my home after school once a week.  I read my books to them as well (but not the same ones those students heard when they were in 5th grade).  That way, after I've made changes after reading a book to my class, I can see how the new version works with my club, or vice versa. That has helped me SO much in my writing and publishing!



*lol* A captive audience. How fun! *fill in evil laugh here*

Now that The Collar and the Cavvarach is out, what can curious fans expect from you next?

Annie: I’m working on two more novels at the moment. King of Malorn will be the next one in the Annals of Alasia, and I’m hoping to have that published sometime this spring. The other one is The Gladiator and the Guard, which takes place four years after the events of The Collar and the Cavvarach. I drafted it last November (another NaNoWriMo project), but it still needs a lot of work. I hope to have it ready for publication by the end of this school year, but we’ll see.

(That always seems to happen with NanoWriMo projects). We will be looking forward to your new books! :)

If you weren’t a writer, what career might you have pursued instead?

Annie: I’m actually a fulltime teacher. While I love my day job, unfortunately it doesn’t leave me with nearly as much time for writing as I’d like. I mostly write on the weekends and on summer vacation, plus sometimes in the evenings if I don’t feel too brain-dead after a long day of teaching.

Do you have any advice for aspiring fantasy authors?

Annie: My advice is for any kind of writer. Don’t try to write a scene perfectly the first time or get frustrated if it doesn’t turn out the way you hoped. Just get your ideas on paper in whatever rough form you need to; never mind selecting just the right words or fixing any mistakes. Leave the scene alone for a few days, and when you come back to it, read through it and smooth out the obvious errors. Read through it again later and work on polishing it up a little more, and then a little more the next time, and so on. If possible, read it aloud to someone; that will help you hear errors or issues you may not notice otherwise. I’ve found that it usually takes lots of passes before I’m satisfied with something I’ve written. Trying to make it perfect the first time is stressful and next to impossible, at least for me.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?

Annie: If you like science fiction and fantasy, you might enjoy my “Realm Explorers” blog series. In this weekly series, different sci-fi and fantasy authors answer questions about the worlds their stories are set in. Examples of these questions include:

If we visit as tourists, what would you recommend we see or do?

What dangers should we avoid?

Is there a distinct or unusual type of food or meal that we might be served?

What types of sentient races might we encounter?

What types of weaponry or fighting styles are common there?

You can read recent Realm Explorers posts here. Feel free to subscribe to my blog to be alerted to the latest ones every Monday. It’s a fun way to find out much more about sci-fi and fantasy worlds than anyone could just by reading the book’s description on Amazon!



I second that.I always enjoy your Realm Explorers interviews, Annie!

Where can my readers find out more about you—and The Collar and the Cavvarach?

Annie: Anyone is welcome to visit my blog and social media pages (links below). In addition, I wrote a Realm Explorers post that describes the world that The Collar and the Cavvarach is set in, with interesting details about the culture (including food, weapons, transportation, entertainment, etc.). Click here to read that.



Blurb:

Bensin, a teenage slave and martial artist, is desperate to see his little sister freed. But only victory in the Krillonian Empire's most prestigious tournament will allow him to secretly arrange for Ellie's escape. Dangerous people are closing in on her, however, and Bensin is running out of time. With his one hope fading quickly away, how can Bensin save Ellie from a life of slavery and abuse?



The book itself is available through the following retailers:

Link to ebook on Amazon: http://smarturl.it/cavvarach

Link to ebook on Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/539122

Link to ebook on Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-collar-and-the-cavvarach-1

Link to ebook (Nook) on Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-collar-and-the-cavvarach-annie-douglass-lima/1121847057?ean=2940151898997

Link to ebook on Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Annie_Douglass_Lima_The_Collar_and_the_Cavvarach?id=tMfvCAAAQBAJ

Link to ebook on Apple iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-collar-and-the-cavvarach/id990745970?mt=11

Link to ebook on Google Books: https://books.google.com/books?isbn=1311045120

Link to ebook on Lulu: http://www.lulu.com/shop/annie-douglass-lima/the-collar-and-the-cavvarach/ebook/product-22157178.html

For More on Annie and her books see her social media links below:


Blog: http://anniedouglasslima.blogspot.com

Email: AnnieDouglassLima@gmail.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnnieDouglassLimaAuthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/princeofalasia

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/ADLimaOnGoodreads

Google+: http://bit.ly/ADLimaOnGooglePlus

Amazon Author Page: http://bit.ly/AnnieDouglassLimaOnAmazon

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/AnnieDouglassLima

LinkedIn: http://bit.ly/ADLimaOnLinkedIn

About Annie:

Annie Douglass Lima spent most of her childhood in Kenya and later graduated from Biola University in Southern California. She and her husband Floyd currently live in Taiwan, where she teaches fifth grade at Morrison Academy. She has been writing poetry, short stories, and novels since her childhood, and to date has published six books (three YA action adventure/fantasy and three anthologies of her students’ poetry). Besides writing, her hobbies include reading (especially fantasy and science fiction), scrapbooking, and international travel.

 Thank you for being with us, Annie! I wish you all the best with, and look forward to reading, all your fine works. :)

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Book trailer for Druid Warrior's Heart

This just in...:) Okay, we're not breaking news here, but I did want to share. I have a new book trailer for DRUID WARRIOR'S HEART.



If you like it, please share, and give it a like at Youtube, please. Enjoy.

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Girl Code by Cait Jarrod, DC Stone, Jessica Jayne, and Lea Bronsen,tour

Welcoming back my friend Cait Jarrod and her co-authors. They're here today with another giveaway and excerpt from their latest release, GIRL Code. Enjoy.

Cait: Hi Everyone! Writers In Crime gals and me had a great time writing stories of friendship and romance. Below is a snippet from FAITH. Giveaway below! Happy Reading! ~Cait GIRL CODE: An anthology: All proceeds from sales are going to the Wounded Warriors Project.

Introduction by Julie Ann Walker.
Where to buy: Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/ebook/dp/B00X602S8I/ Amazon/uk: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1514773457
CreateSpace: https://www.createspace.com/5591052

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/564340

All Romance eBooks: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-girlcodeanantholog…

Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/girl-code-2

Apple iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1024223247

Inktera: http://www.inktera.com/…/2ccbd018-d9b4-4f3f-beba-12d54d3abe…

Other links: Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25181055-girl-code

Pinterest: https://no.pinterest.com/caitjarrod/girl-code/

Girl Code blurb: Four best friends struggle with decisions that affect their lives, their hearts, and their futures. As sisters, they embrace the Girl Code. HOPE Josephine "Joey" Lockhart escapes her past, herself and her home town of Pearl, Ohio to Florida after high school. Years later, she meets a man that refuses to let her hide behind her camera lens and encourages her out of her shell. Will he be the one to push her to feel for the first time?

LIVE After seven years in drug hell, detoxing Juliette "Juls" Carrington returns to her hometown Pearl to attend her grandmother's burial. Once more rejected by her family, she has a swim in a pond nearby when a mysterious camper, an ex-drunk, coaxes her to come to his hut in the woods. Together they must fight their inner demons for a chance to love...and live.

FAITH Selena Bodine escaped into the United States Air Force to leave behind a painful past and the one man who she refused to let herself love. Years later, an urgent call from her father brings her back to Pearl, Ohio and face to face with the man she still loves. But will the secret that Cullen is investigating her threaten their second chance?

PERSISTENCE Laydi Michaels has been running away from her past and bad memories for years. Finding herself wasn’t an easy task, but she’s managed to finally get to a point to where she wants to be. Only to wake up married to her boss….who fired her the night before. Wrapped in a case that puts her life in danger, and dealing with a grave situation back home in Pearl, Laydi figures out she wasn’t close to finding herself, and now, she’s risked everything.

FAITH EXCERPT:

She closed her eyes and sucked in the indescribable ache hitting her ribs with a force of a jagged knife. Not only did she walk away from him, she crossed a line with her sisters. What must they think of her? “Thank you for the beer.” She set her bottle on the table and rose.

He moved, blocking her path. “No,” he snapped. “You’re not walking away again.”

She recoiled, gazed into the blue eyes she loved, and couldn’t stop the quiver in her chin. “I’m sorry. I never meant to hurt you.”

He brought her wrist up between them, and set her hand on his chest. “There’s nothing to be sorry for.” His words filled with such affection, such determination, tingles raced over her skin.

“This is messed up,” she whispered, yet didn’t remove her hand. She couldn’t leave his comfort. Curling and uncurling her fingers, she spread her hand further to touch more of him. “I feel things that scare me. Remember things I didn’t know I did.”

He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “We’ll take it slow,” he said and tucked his chin until her gaze settled on his. “Okay?”

She nodded, and he pressed his mouth to hers in a feather-soft caress filled with gentleness and longing. His hand stayed against her lower back and the curve of her butt.

Through her yoga pants, heat radiated from his fingers. She prayed he’d move them lower.

As if he’d read her thoughts, he cupped a butt cheek and squeezed. His lips and tongue moved over hers like a fine-oiled machine, as if they’d kissed a hundred times.

She snuggled into him further, melted into the contour of his body, his hard plains aligning with her perfectly.

But she had to go. She needed time, distance, air. “I can’t.”

A low growl vibrated from him. She placed a kiss on his neck and laid her head against him, absorbing his comfort and warmth.

“The paper I gave you,” she said slowly, unsure exactly how she would proceed in bringing up what she’d done and the reason for it.

“The sketch?” He lifted a brow, confusion and something else she couldn’t name stretching across his features, and placed a hand on his pocket.

Her heart leapt so hard, she feared it would jump out of her chest, which made the raw emotions she faced harder.

“It may look like lines, a drawing, but it’s more. It reveals what I want most from life.” The pain of sharing something so deep, so personal with someone was difficult, yet with him, it felt right. “Research it. At the time, I couldn’t give any more,” she whispered next to his ear and kissed his cheek. Forcing a smile, she moved past him, down the steps, and headed home.

Book Trailer:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qF5HnFUKvE]

Author bios and contacts:

Cait Jarrod

"I write what I love to read - Romantic Suspense/Mystery- I love writing and creating the meet-cue (the point where the hero and heroine meet) to the blossoming of the romance. Add a suspenseful plot or a good mystery to the equation and the perfect book is born to curl up to and lose yourself in, taking you away from reality, troubles."

As a child, I entertained myself for hours playing pretend, but not with dolls and such. I created stories and pictured them in my mind, sometimes even acted them out, my well preserved secret until now. I spent years after leaving school trying to figure out my niche. Not being a literary enthusiast, I never thought my childhood pastime would lead in this direction.

In life, one door closes and another opens, so I'm told. This was true for me. I lost my mother, my best friend, to cancer. After a year without her, I picked up her favorite hobby...reading. After one book, a romantic suspense, I was hooked. In the past, I'd fall asleep after a few minutes of reading. Now, books rank up there with a good red wine. It didn't take long for my childhood muse to come back in adult version urging me to put the scenes in my head on paper.

I hope I have provided you with the escape similar to the ones I conjured in childhood and rediscovered as an adult, and I hope you enjoy reading my books as much as I have loved creating them.

Cait's debut novel, Kidnapped Hearts won awards in the categories of Best Happily Ever After and Best Suspense. Cait lives in Virginia with her husband and three daughters.
Find Cait at:

Cait’s Classy Chicks Street Team: https://www.facebook.com/groups/629181983825796/ 

Cait's Newsletter: https://confirmsubscription.com/h/i/76093C2B11569E7C

Website: http://caitjarrod.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cait-Jarrod-Author/500705936640529?ref=hl Twitter https://twitter.com/CaitJarrod

Pinterest:   https://www.pinterest.com/caitjarrod/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6966274.Cait_Jarrod

Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+CaitJarrod/posts

email: cait.jarrod@aol.com

D.C. Stone
"I write romantic suspense because I can connect with it, and love the thrill of kicking ass and being sexy while you're at it."

D.C. Stone is an e-book author and full-time fraud investigator when she isn’t diving into the world of Fiction. After serving eight years of service with the United States Air Force, she went on to transition into the world of Financial Crimes and became a lead investigator for many years. When she isn’t trying to solve a new puzzle in the world of fraud, she is engulfed with coffee, her laptop, and all those crazy characters in her head. She is a member of the Romance Writers of America, New Jersey Romance Writers, Kiss of Death, and the Liberty State Fiction Writers. Come stop by on Facebook, Twitter or her website and say hello!

Find DC at:

Website: http://www.authordcstone.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorDCStone

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DCStoneauthor

Goodreads:   https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6541023.D_C_Stone

Jessica Jayne
"My writing interests vary much like my reading interests. Though I mainly write romance type novels with a spicy twist, I have lived what some might call a suspenseful life. As a survivor of stalking and sexual assault, I learned the ins and outs of the legal system pretty quickly. It helped to precipitate my interest in getting my law degree... that and the fact that I grew up around attorneys. So adding suspense to my writing is no big surprise to me or anyone that knows me."

I am a born and raised small town Ohio girl, who moved to the Sunshine State after graduating from college. I graduated with a bachelor's degree in English because I could not imagine doing anything else but reading and writing. It is such a pleasure to be able to share all the stories in my head!

In the journey of life, I got my law degree (and license) and also became a wife and a mother of three children. So, life is always an adventure.

I love to read and write... obviously! I’m a huge sports fan, especially college football and the Ohio State Buckeyes! Go Steelers! Go Rays! Go Lightning! I LOVE to travel... LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to travel. And I love sharing my love to travel with my children. Did I say I love to travel? I love to drink coffee in the morning and tea at night! I love a good glass of wine, especially if it comes from a bottle made by the FOOLS wine club… yep, I’m a founding member of that crazy group! J I love hanging out with my family and my friends! Music makes me happy. I’m a mix between country girl and city chic. But I love nothing more than putting on my jean shorts, tank top, cowboy boots and hat and watching Tim McGraw or Eric Church belt it out! I’m a sucker for a cowboy hat! J

Favorite quote: “If nothing ever changed, there would be no butterflies.”

Find Jessica at:

Website: http://jessicajayneauthor.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Jessica-Jayne/388268367912903

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JessicaJayne13

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6545547.Jessica_Jayne

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/thejessicajayne/

Lea Bronsen
"I love how well-chosen words can make your heart beat a little faster."

Lea Bronsen likes her reads fast, hot, and edgy, and strives to give her own stories the same intensity. After venturing into dirty inner-city crime drama with her debut novel Wild Hearted, she divides her writing time between psychological thriller, romantic suspense, and erotic contemporary romance.

She is signed with Evernight Publishing, Decadent Publishing, and Insatiable Press.

Find Lea at:

Website: http://leabronsen.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeaBronsen

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LeaBronsen

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6966248.Lea_Bronsen

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Lea-Bronsen/e/B00BTFT8KS

Email: leabronsen@yahoo.com

GIVEAWAY IS NOW OVER Girl Code Print Copy Giveaway: a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks for visiting again, Cait, and to everyone who enters the giveaway, good luck!

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